Great Britain -- History -- Anglo-Saxon period, 449-1066 -- Sources
This year, after Easter, the army rode forth from Northampton and
Leicester, and they broke the peace and slew many men at Hocneratun
(Hognorton) and in the neighbourhood. And as soon as these returned
home, another troop was immediately assembled, which rode forth towards
Ligtun (Leighton, Bedfordshire), but the inhabitants of that country
knew of their coming, and fought with them, and completely routed them,
and seized all the plunder which they had amassed, and a great part of
their horses and arms.
918.
This year a pirate fleet came over from the south from the land of the
Lidwiccas (Britanny), with two Earls Ohtor and Hroald, and they sailed
westward and entered the Severn’s mouth, and they plundered the coasts
of North Wales wherever they could; and they took Bishop Cameleac, at
Ircinga-feld (Archenfield), and led him away to their ships, and King
Edward afterwards ransomed him for forty pounds. Then afterwards all
the army landed, and would have marched yet again towards Archenfield
to plunder, but then the men of Hereford and of Gloucester, and of the
nearest towns met them, and fought with them, and put them to flight;
and they slew the Earl Hroald, and a brother of the other Earl Ohtor,
and they drove the rest into a wood and besieged them there until they
gave hostages that they would depart from the dominions of King Edward.
The King had taken care to post troops so as to guard the southern
coast of the channel from Wales in the west (Cornwall), to the mouth
of the Avon eastward, that they might not dare to invade the country
on that side. Nevertheless they landed by night at two several times,
once east of Weced (Watchet), and again at Portloca (Porlock). And the
King’s men repulsed them each time, and few escaped but those alone,
who swam to the ships; and these remained in the isle of Bradanrelic
(Steepholm?) until they were in great want of of provisions, and many
died of hunger because they could not procure any food; then they went
to Deomod (South Wales), and thence away to Ireland. And afterwards,
the same year, King Edward went to Buckingham with his army, and he
remained there four weeks, and built fortifications on each side of
the river before he departed thence. And Earl Thurcytel acknowledged
him as his Lord, as did all the Holds and chief men of Bedford, and
most of those of Northampton. Before Lammas, this year, Æthelflæd the
Lady of Mercia, by the help of God won the town of Derby, with all its
appurtenances, but four of her most valued Thanes were slain within
the gates.
919.
This year, before Martinmas, King Edward went with an army to Bedford,
and he gained possession of that town, and almost all the inhabitants
who had before been subject to him returned to their obedience; and
he remained there four weeks, and he caused the fortifications on the
south side of the river to be built before he departed thence.
920.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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